Pete Sinclair Gives More Insight Into The Toys For BotCon 2014

Beat me to it.

Sabrblade wrote:Beat me to it.

LOST Cybertronian is our resident ninja, after all.

I am intrigued. I'm quivering in anticipation to see the toys. Hopefully those'll start going up this month.

Not exactly the "30th Anniversary Bonanza Spectacular" most people were hoping for.
But I like knights. And I like pirates. And I like goofy mashups. So I'm on board with this idea.

Any butt pirates

I could care less about the silly them e. If the figures homage G1 characters, ill get them. Im not fond of the whole "theme" concept. I wish they would do more gap filler sets like games of deception. I never considered that a theme, just a set of repaints people wanted including the convention exclusives.

So the most concrete thing here is that the troop-builders will be pirates, not knights.

So my faint hope of the knights riding into battle on the Thoroughbred Corps are dashed in less than a week. Sigh.

Oh well, maybe next year's theme will go even more mashup-crazy and crossover with other Hasbro properties, with Mach Kick repainted into various Ponies, other random animal-alt TFs going Littlest Pet Shop, etc. If it spills over into other non-Hasbro HUB toons, maybe Bakudora as SheZow? If Ser-Ket ends up having to be a FunPub toy, it could happen.

Bumblevivisector wrote:Oh well, maybe next year's theme will go even more mashup-crazy and crossover with other Hasbro properties, with Mach Kick repainted into various Ponies, other random animal-alt TFs going Littlest Pet Shop, etc. If it spills over into other non-Hasbro HUB toons, maybe Bakudora as SheZow? If Ser-Ket ends up having to be a FunPub toy, it could happen.

I see what you did there.

I'm tellin' ya. That Decepticon Rogue is Axor.

PrymeStriker wrote:I'm tellin' ya. That Decepticon Rogue is Axor.

Didn't he already get a toy?




So the troop builders are ALSO pirates? Well, crap. There goes my last vestige of interest.

Gonna wait until pics, but the theme hasn't drawn my interest.

Henry921 wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:I'm tellin' ya. That Decepticon Rogue is Axor.

Didn't he already get a toy?




So the troop builders are ALSO pirates? Well, crap. There goes my last vestige of interest.

Gonna wait until pics, but the theme hasn't drawn my interest.

Well, in the Aligned Continuity, Axor is a rogue Decepticon that became a Star Seeker. Just making the connection.

They could always retool something else.

Rated X wrote:I could care less about the silly them e. If the figures homage G1 characters, ill get them. Im not fond of the whole "theme" concept. I wish they would do more gap filler sets like games of deception. I never considered that a theme, just a set of repaints people wanted including the convention exclusives.

I'm completely the opposite. I think that TFCC should not make many slavish G1 repaints, as then it'll draw the ire of collectors who think that that's the only way they'll get "Character X" that they feel is necessary.

I like themes like this because it's not necessary for collectors to go out of their way if they don't want to. And besides, unlike you, I like originality.

I love Pete but it's completely and utterly stupid to not do something for the 30th Anniversary/Age of Extinction year.

I think this is a fun idea, but to me every year is a year closer to a Gobots set

The official BotCon 2014, taking place in Pasadena on 19th-22nd June, have their own reserved block in not one but two hotels: the Sheraton and the Hilton! The two are now available for all the fans planning to attend the event at the links above - and check below for more information!

Transformers Collectors Club 2014 Convention

June 16 - 22, 2014
Event Venue : Event will be held off site.
The Sheraton Pasadena would like to extend a warm welcome to the attendees of the Transformers Collectors Club 2014 Convention!

PLEASE NOTE: Currently the nights of June 19, 20 and 21 are available in the block. All other nights are unavailable.
Updated 12/30/2013

Group rate available until June 2, 2014. Subject to Availability.

BotCon

Welcome to the BotCon reservation site!

A block of rooms have been reserved for June 16, 2014 - June 23, 2014. The special room rate will be available until May 17th or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.

Booking a reservation from our site is simple. To begin the process, click on "Book a Room" below to receive your group's preferred rate. Note: A first night's deposit is required upon reserving your guestroom. If the guestroom is cancelled 72 hours prior to check in, there is no cancellation fee and we will refund the deposit. If the guestroom is cancelled within 72 hours prior to check in, we will keep the one night deposit as the cancellation fee.

See you at the Hilton Pasadena in June! We hope you enjoy your stay and your group's event!

Glad im taking a break this year. Other than 40 ounces, Pasadena did nothing for me. The area the convention center is located is like a wannabe rodeo drive in beverly hills. Unless your into clothesshopping, theres nothing to do on foot. Why does botcon always go to 2nd teir cities ? Why not vegas, nyc, or miami ? TFcon is doing Chicago. Why cant botcon do that ? It would be nice if they would hold botcon in a city that has a nightlife And places to explore on foot. I had fun checking out the kennedy assassination area in dallas at botcon 2012. But other than that there wasnt anything to see and definitally no local spots where you can have a beer and meet chicks.

Isn't this post already outdated? These rooms are about 98% eaten up.

I myself don't mind Pasadena. Hollywood is a highway bus ride away, and a car rental (if one can afford it) would scratch the itch a dead hotel lobby or early bar closing can't cure. Sure, these locations, apart from Atlantis in Florida, have not been "top tier", but it could be worse -- it could be Cincinnati, OH.

I'm staying off site this year to save money.

The Official BotCon Twitter feed just posted a rather cryptic message and image, both of which we've mirrored below. This year's theme is Pirates vs. Knights, so just who is this organic called Squirm? Check him out below.

The BotCon 2014 is taking place in Pasadena on 19th-22nd June.

So the question is... Who is Squirm? #PVK

Every Captain needs a crew... #PVK

Have to say, the art is really nicely done. I'd say that bodes well for the comic and tech specs.

Squirm looks a bit like the Ben10 character Jury Rigg.

I'm calling it now...

Cannonball will be utilizing the Silas Breakdown mold with Squirm being the "organic" in place of Silas (slight remold).

Again, I would love to see recolors of the Cyberbeasts Dirgegun, Maxbee, Hellscream, and Thrust-or/-ol as his crew.

Would be a pretty nifty idea.

He kinda reminds me of a creepier elf version of Doctor Arkeville...

Tranzilla wrote:I'm calling it now...

Cannonball will be utilizing the Silas Breakdown mold with Squirm being the "organic" in place of Silas (slight remold).

Tying in with the "Dread Pirate Roberts" theme... Genius!

If pirates and knights arent bad enough, now they have to throw organic characters in the mix. The one thing that made funpub comics cool was the lack of humans.

Rated X wrote:If pirates and knights arent bad enough, now they have to throw organic characters in the mix. The one thing that made funpub comics cool was the lack of humans.

Cheap Shots had Muzzle, Quig, Lug, and Minerva, the first three being (former) binairy-bonded partners to Nightbeat, Siren and Hosehead. And Minerva appeared as a full-blown woman.

More importantly, who cares. Dreadful theme! At least the eBay scalpers won't get any of my monies this year...

I hope he's not human. Really really hope he's some inhuman creature.

Banjo-Tron wrote:More importantly, who cares. Dreadful theme!

I see what you did there.

Is it just me, or is this "Squirm" guy share a striking resemblance to Jak during Jak 3?

Wow.....you guys are so childish complaining over Pirates and Knights when we have not even see them yet


I bet some of you will change your minds once you see them.

And the rest of you?

well...only oneself can change their own mind.

they are like sub factions! but even then that's just the theme we don't know what their group names (or individual names) are

I bet the pirates are Star Seekers.

I don't want to say the knights are those guys from IDW but I can't think of anything else.

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:Wow.....you guys are so childish complaining over Pirates and Knights when we have not even see them yet


I bet some of you will change your minds once you see them.

And the rest of you?

well...only oneself can change their own mind.

they are like sub factions! but even then that's just the theme we don't know what their group names (or individual names) are

I bet the pirates are Star Seekers.

I don't want to say the knights are those guys from IDW but I can't think of anything else.

The theme doesn't strike me and is a strange choice for the 30th anniversary but I agree. We haven't even seen the figures yet so there is no reason to start bashing it. We really know very little about the theme in general. Fun Pub can't make everyone happy and that's a fact. Some people will love it, some will hate it. I'm very curious to see how things progress. Who knows, this may be a great set

I personally have never been to Pasadena so either way I'm looking forward to it.

I love the sound of this theme! It's like Fun Pub is finally, at long last, going back to its roots in doing a set whose theme is true to the spirit of the very first set from 2005. No more of this "G1/G2/MW but new/different/backwards/etc." stuff that we've been getting since 2007. Just a simple concept born out of pure creative fun and imagination.

...even though it is still set in the same world as the 2009, 2010, and 2013 sets, and the 2010-2012 magazine storylines, have been set in: The Wings Universe.

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:I bet the pirates are Star Seekers.

They are, yes. But NOT the same ones as those from the existing fiction, meaning that these ones ought to not have anything to do with Thundertron and such.

Sabrblade wrote:I love the sound of this theme! It's like Fun Pub is finally, at long last, going back to its roots in doing a set whose theme is true to the spirit of the very first set from 2005. No more of this "G1/G2/MW but new/different/backwards/etc." stuff that we've been getting since 2007. Just a simple concept born out of pure creative fun and imagination.

...even though it is still set in the same world as the 2009, 2010, and 2013 sets, and the 2010-2012 magazine storylines, have been set in: The Wings Universe.

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:I bet the pirates are Star Seekers.

They are, yes. But NOT the same ones as those from the existing fiction, meaning that these ones ought to not have anything to do with Thundertron and such.

Why?

njb902 wrote:Why?

Well, unless the Club creates a G1 Thundertron, that is, since this will be set in the Wings Universe (as I noted) instead of the Aligned continuity.

Huh.

So, a guy over at TFW got his TCC magazine issue recently and said it shows what Cannonball's toy looks like.

It's the Prime Robots in Disguise Deluxe Autobot Ratchet mold with a new Cannonball-esque headsculpt.

He also mentioned that the accompanying text in the magazine contained a log written by Tornado of Squadron X, in which Tornado notes how Cannonball had offered to let them join his crew, but Squadron X "saw a striking difference."

I'm happier and happier with my decision not to go this year. SDCC and NYCC here we come.

Also, Jesse Wittenrich explained the reasoning behind this mold choice for Cannonball over at Allspark.com:

The very first toy explored for Cannonball was Breakdown. Because on the face of it, it seems perfect.

But after playing around with the transformation, how that related to the deco, the mold layout, and the exaggerated proportions (tiny head is tiny!), it didn't really work. Ratchet was actually the third option explored, but the robot mode was just perfect for him. Vehicle mode coincidentally became another emergency vehicle which some fans may like...and others not so much.

I wonder what the second was.

Probably something better.

I'm thinking either a Bulkhead mold or Beast Hunters Ratchet.

Using Ratchet's alternate head...
http://www.seibertron.com/images/toys/uploads/1330226020_Ratchet%20new%20head%20close-up.jpg

Still want the Cyborgs, though.

Thanks to fellow Seibertron.com member Sabrblade, we have some interesting news about the recently revealed leader of the Pirate faction in this year's BotCon fiction, Cannonball. The news comes from the TCC magazine, currently being delivered to members. We are not able to show pictures, as per the Club's request, but here's the reveal:


Cannonball will be a redeco of Prime: Robots in Disguise Ratchet, with a new head mold!



A fan who has received the magazine describes it as follows: Vehicle mode is black with silver for the fenders, bumpers, etc, and silver stylized skeletons drawn on the sides and top. Robot mode is also mostly black & silver, with what appears to be the typical Cannonball color (not sure if it's orange, green or what with my defective eyes) on the thighs, shoulders and upper arms. Head looks like Cybertron cannonball (I.e. Cybertron red alert) with typical visor and mouth.

This still seems not to explain the alternate head found in the Ratchet instructions, pictured below.



Additionally, Jesse Wittenrich, writer of last year and this year's magazine comic, explained their choice of the mold at fellow fansite AllSpark.com:

The very first toy explored for Cannonball was Breakdown. Because on the face of it, it seems perfect.

But after playing around with the transformation, how that related to the deco, the mold layout, and the exaggerated proportions (tiny head is tiny!), it didn't really work. Ratchet was actually the third option explored, but the robot mode was just perfect for him. Vehicle mode coincidentally became another emergency vehicle which some fans may like...and others not so much.

Well, now that that's out into the open, might as well also mention that the TFW guy said that the magazine also contains a mention of Squadron X in the accompanying text for Cannonball, in which there is a log written by Squadron X member Tornado, who notes how Cannonball offered to let them join his crew, but Squadron X "saw a striking difference."

To be fair, I really really really like that mold. It's the lack of a nice deco that brought it down (Reprolabels fixed it for me). I have no sentimental connection to the character, either, so I'll be interested to see how this turns out!

Ratchet's mold was always a good one, but I still would have preferred Breakdown for this purpose.

Wow, one of the proposed possibilities actually came true!

Va'al wrote:This still seems not to explain the alternate head found in the Ratchet instructions, pictured below.

We already have an explanation for that head: Arms Micron Swerve. The head design was used for a different mold, and since G1 Swerve was a retool of G1 Gears... See what they did?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:We already have an explanation for that head: Arms Micron Swerve. The head design was used for a different mold, and since G1 Swerve was a retool of G1 Gears... See what they did?

Except that Swerve's head has different face and is Voyager sized. The head seen on the proposed "Gears" figure looks a lot more like the head seen in Ratchet's instructions (and is Deluxe sized). Though, there is at least a resemblance between the general shape of this head and Swerve's, yes, so we can probably say that the design for Swerve's head was at least based on the "Gears" head.

Here's a close up to compare:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Wow, one of the proposed possibilities actually came true!

Va'al wrote:This still seems not to explain the alternate head found in the Ratchet instructions, pictured below.

We already have an explanation for that head: Arms Micron Swerve. The head design was used for a different mold, and since G1 Swerve was a retool of G1 Gears... See what they did?

Aha, fair enough (and yes, I just saw Sabr's response too; I take on both your points!).

Prime Breakdown made too much sense, so of course they rejected that idea.

Tornado was the UK name of the G2 Cyberjet Windrazor. Silver and red seeker confirmed, but because the Classics mold makes too much sense (see: Making funpub easy money), it'll be a FoC Starscream seeker instead.

Well guys, consider that Cannonball not being a voyager might mean another figure gets that treatment. Plus would you want Cannonball to tower over the other toys in the set? He was kind of a short deluxe in Cybertron